Media Advisory: WFU’s Million-Dollar Day
On Tuesday, June 10, Wake Forest University raised more than $1 million for the Wake Forest Fund in a 24-hour fundraising blitz.
The initial challenge was to raise $500,000 and attract participation from 2,000 donors. A group of generous donors offered a matching donation of half a million dollars if either goal was met. Wake Forest surpassed both of these goals, raising $1,007,081 from 2,648 donors.
These donors – the most ever in a 24-hour period in the school’s history – contributed to the Wake Forest Fund, the University’s unrestricted fund for urgent needs. The money raised will support key University priorities such as student aid, faculty development, emerging programs for students, library and technology resources, and facilities renovations.
Wake Forest engaged alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends in unexpected ways. To meet its goals the University:
- · Developed a motion graphics video and webpage presence that took a humorous approach to giving.
- · Spearheaded an email campaign and follow-up phone calls to motivate day-of giving.
- · Used social media, and the hashtag #WakeWill to encourage conversation and giving among alumni, parents and friends of the University.
Gifts to the annual fund ensure support to the University’s most critical needs because tuition and the endowment cover only a portion of what is needed to sustain Wake Forest’s tradition of excellence. Gifts to the Wake Forest Fund also count towards Wake Will: The Campaign for Wake Forest, which so far has raised $383 million towards the $600 million goal for the Reynolda Campus.
“The energy, motivation and generosity of the Wake Foresters that came together yesterday is overwhelming,” said Mark Petersen, vice president for university advancement. “Thank you to the thousands of people whose tweets, emails and gifts to the Wake Forest Fund will help fulfill our promise to prepare students to lead lives that matter.”
Wake Forest’s fiscal year ends June 30, 2014. More information about the Wake Forest Fund is available at http://wakewill.wfu.edu/wake-forest-fund.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University combines the best traditions of a small liberal arts college with the resources of a large research university. Founded in 1834, the school is located in Winston-Salem, N.C. The University’s graduate school of arts and sciences, divinity school, and nationally ranked schools of law, medicine and business enrich our intellectual environment. Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu.
